Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash
First off, this is MY interpretation of this song. I do not have the
recording, and I have not heard this song in years, but this is how
I play it. It should be close enough that you will be able to figure
out the recording on your own.
Chords used in this song
E A7 B7
e----0------0-------2p----
b----0------2r------0-----
g----1------0-------2r----
d----2------2m------1i----
a----2------0-------2m----
e----0-----(0)-----(2)m---
THE FAMOUS INTRO
B7 E
H
e--------------------------
b--------------------------
g--------------------------
d--------1--1--------------
a---2-2--------2-----------
e------------------2^r---0-
Bend the F# on the 6th string to raise the pitch one-half step (G) and
then slowly release the bend to sound the F# again. It is a slow smooth bend.
That last open E note is the first note of the Rhythm Guitar.
RHYTHM GUITAR #1 – Metal players probably think they invented palm muting.
Johnny was doing it 50 years ago. He was excellent at playing a very
simple palm muted part.
RHYTHM GUITAR #1 has a very straightforward eighth-note feel.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.......
E (All palm muted. Use all downstrokes for your strum.)
e--------------------------------------- This is one measure.
b--------0---------0--------0---------0- Play 3 measures of this
g--------1---------1--------1---------1- then the part below.
d--------2---------2--------2---------2-
a-------------2------------------2------
e---0------------------0----------------
e---------------------------------------
b--------0---------0--------------------
g--------1---------1--------------------
d--------2---------2--------------------
a-------------2-------------------------
e---0------------------0----0----2----4-
Now to the A7 Chord
e--------------------------------------
b-------2--------2---------2--------2--
g-------0--------0---------0--------0--
d-------2--------2---------2--------2--
a--0------------------0----------------
e------------0------------------0------
e--------------------------------------
b-------2---------2--------------------
g-------0---------0--------------------
d-------2---------2--------------------
a--0------------------0----0-----------
e------------0------------------3----2-
Back to E
e--------------------------------------
b------0---------0---------0---------0-
g------1---------1---------1---------1-
d------2---------2---------2---------2-
a-----------2-------------------2------
e--0------------------0----------------
e--------------------------------------
b------0---------0---------------------
g------1---------1---------------------
d------2---------2---------------------
a-----------2-------------------0----1-
e--0------------------0----0-----------
Now the B7 chord
e------------------------------------ Pick up your middle finger
b------0-------0--------0---------0-- on the 5th string and place
g------2-------2--------2---------2-- it on the 6th string. So you
d------1-------1--------1---------1-- alternate back and forth.
a--2----------------2----------------
e----------2-----------------2-------
e-----------------------------------
b------0-------0--------------------
g------2-------2--------------------
d------1-------1--------------------
a--2----------------2----2----------
e----------2-----------------3---2—-
Back to E
e------------------------------------ This is one measure. Play
b------0--------0--------0--------0-- two measures of this and
g------1--------1--------1--------1-- then start progression over.
d------2--------2--------2--------2--
a----------2------------------2------
e--0-----------------0---------------
So this is just a 12-Bar Blues /E/E/E/E/A7/A7/E/E/B7/B7/E/E/
RHYTHM GUITAR # 2
This part is played in a 16th note shuffle. Here is the rhythm.
It is all played on the 6th and 5th strings palm-muted.
/.../ / /.../ / /.../ / /.../ /
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
This is simply the Root and 5th played on the bass strings. When
it comes to the runs that lead you into the next chord shown on
RHYTHM GUITAR #1, play them exactly as you did before with eighth notes.
Over the E chord
a----------2--2-2--------2--2-2- This is one measure.
e---0--0-0--------0--0-0-------- Play 3 times then,
a----------2--2-2---------------
e---0--0-0--------0--0--2--4----
Now over the A7 chord
a---0--0-0--------0--0-0--------
e----------0--0-0--------0--0-0-
a---0--0-0--------0--0----------
e----------0--0-0-------3--2----
Back to E
a----------2--2-2--------2--2-2-
e---0--0-0--------0--0-0--------
a----------2--2-2-------0--1----
e---0--0-0--------0--0----------
Over the B7 chord
a---2--2-2--------2--2-2--------
e----------2--2-2--------2--2-2-
a---2--2-2--------2--2----------
e----------2--2-2-------3--2----
Back to E
a----------2--2-2--------2--2-2- This is one measure. Play 2X
e---0--0-0--------0--0-0--------
If you have another guitarist you can play with, have one
play Rhythm Guitar #1 and the other Rhythm Guitar #2. You
will really get the classic Johnny Cash sound.
Here's the lyrics.
Intro riff
I (E)hear that train a comin´, It´s rolling round the bend,
And I ain´t seen the sunshine since, I don´t know when,
I´m (A7)stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin´ (E)on,
But that (B7)train keeps a rollin´, on down to San An(E)tone..
When (E)I was just a baby, my mama told me Son,
Always be a good boy, don´t ever play with guns,
But I (A7)shot a man in Reno, just to watch him (E)die..
Now every (B7)time I hear that whistle, I hang my head and (E)cry..
I (E)bet there´s rich folks eatin'.. in a fancy dining car,
They´re probably drinkin´ coffee, and smoking big cigars,
Well I (A7)know I had it coming, I know I can´t be (E)free,
But those (B7)people keep a movin´ and that´s what tortures (E)me
Well if they´d (E)free me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I´d move on over, a little further down the line,
(A7)Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to (E)stay...
And I´d (B7)let that lonesome whistle blow my blues a-(E)way
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Thanks for a song with a B7 in it; I need to work on that pinky finger more.
Good instructions also.
- Bull
I found if you add that pinky to make the E and E7 just before you go to the A it really sounds good... particularly if you are not doing the alternate root note pick and strum but doing a much more strummy version of the song.
Also some single strumming on the 4th verse breaks it up a little if you are playing by yourself and are not doing the two solo's.
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES – Johnny Cash
INTRO:
4/D |---------1-1-------------------| E chord
5/A |-2-2-2-------2-----------------|
6/E |-----------------2b(3)b(2)-0-|
VERSE 1:
[E]I HEAR THE TRAIN A COMIN', IT'S ROLLIN' ‘ROUND THE BEND
AND I AIN'T SEEN THE SUNSHINE SINCE, I DON'T KNOW [E7]WHEN
I'M [A]STUCK IN FOLSOM PRISON, AND TIME KEEPS DRAGGIN' [E]ON
BUT THAT [B7]TRAIN KEEPS A ROLLIN', ON DOWN TO SAN-AN-[E]TONE
VERSE 2:
WHEN I WAS JUST A BABY, MY MOMMA TOLD ME “SON,
ALWAYS BE A GOOD BOY DON'T EVER PLAY WITH [E7]GUNSâ€
BUT I [A]SHOT A MAN IN RENO, JUST TO WATCH HIM [E]DIE
WHEN I [B7]HEAR THAT WHISTLE BLOWIN', I HANG MY HEAD AND [E]CRY
VERSE 3:
I BET THERE'S RICH FOLKS EATIN', IN A FANCY DINNING CAR
THEY'RE PROB'LY DRINKIN' WHISKEY AND SMOKIN' BIG CI[E7]GARS
BUT I [A]KNOW I HAD IT COMIN', I KNOW I CAN'T BE [E]FREE
BUT THOSE [B7]PEOPLE KEEP A MOVIN', AND THAT'S WHAT TORTURES [E]ME
VERSE 4: (* = single strum)
WELL IF THEY FREED [NC]ME FROM THIS PRISON,
IF THAT [E]*[NC]RAILROAD TRAIN WAS MINE
I [E]*[NC]BET I'D MOVE IT ALL A LITTLE [E]*[NC]FURTHER DOWN THE LINE
[A]FAR FROM FOLSOM PRISON, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO [E]STAY
AND I'D [B7]LET THAT LONESOME WHISTLE, BLOW MY BLUES A[E]WAY
OUTRO:
4/D |---------1-1--------------------| single
5/A |-2-2-2--------2----------------| E chord
6/E |------------------2b(3)b(2)-0-| strum
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
Wes, you should put up an MP3 of you doing this one.
well said Nick!
this is just a great tune, based on one simple riff and a rhythmic strum, a lot of newbies would benefit from hearing this.
Matt
Hi all.
Complete newbie here- totally psyched to have found this site. Great mix of stuff to "work on' and "play with".
Thought I'd start with this one - my dad played Johnny Cash throughout my childhood.
I'm confused by the chord progression. As I'm playing along- it seems like there's only one "E" at the end. Is this 11 bar blues ?!? (lol - is there such a thing?) I'm confused how to be counting the "1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4" measures.
Thanks!
Not really a 12 bar blues tune. The original has the alternating base line through out.
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
Thanx Wes I missed this the first time through, glad the thread was renewed :D Just was I was looking for alternating bassline and walking from chord to chord. Nice to find a tune that is so firmly etched in my brain that I can actually concentrate on the fingering instead of what the tune sounds like!! The tune is coming together slowly and some of the walking chord changes sound really nice.
Appreciate it
Robbie
Thanks Wes
my teacher showed me this song only last week and have been getting a little lost now I can print this out and practice .
So honestly Thank - you :D
hilch
Here is to you as good as you are
And here is to me as bad as I am
As good as you are and as bad as I am
I'm as good as you are as bad as I am
Wes,
Great post, you broke that down excellently. My brother put me onto that post and Ill be learning it soon.
Thanks
Cheers,
Max
Thanks Mr. Wes, I have printed up your explanation and tab for Folsom Prision Blues to work on. Awesome work and well described. It should be an article here.
Enjoy your karma, after all you earned it.
http://www.gadlaw.com
